Already enrolled?

Off-Camera Flash Photography

Put your subjects in their best light no matter what the setting by taking your speedlight off-camera and creating fantastic portraits with Neil van Niekerk’s expert flash techniques.

Whether you’re an aspiring professional or a passionate enthusiast, you’ll gain valuable insights as Neil leads you through his shooting strategies in a variety of settings, both indoors and out. Learn the most effective methods of controlling your camera to prevent shake using remote flash with optical and radio sensors. See how to set your metering properly using both manual and through-the-lens (TTL) modes. You’ll diffuse your light using soft boxes, umbrellas and other gear and get tips for positioning and directing your subject. With Neil’s professional techniques and feedback, you’ll soon have magazine-quality photos of your clients, family and friends!

Lesson plan

Lesson 1. Intro to Off-Camera Flash

Meet Neil and see great examples of effective use of off-camera flash photography, with a discussion of location and subject positioning.

14:45

Lesson 2. Gear & Setup

Learn what gear you’ll need for using off-camera flash, including battery packs, wireless transmitters and modifiers such as umbrellas and soft boxes.

28:06

Lesson 3. Using a Speedlight

Neil demystifies the speedlight’s many settings and how to adjust them, whether you’re shooting with automatic metering or manually adjusting your camera’s exposure.

19:00

Lesson 4. Exposure Metering Techniques

Effective metering is key to good exposure. You’ll see how to use a handheld meter or through-the-lens metering and how to read a photo’s histogram to check your exposure whether your main light is natural or flash.

21:14

Lesson 5. Perfect Portrait: From Speedlight Setup to Posing

Position and direct your subjects to put them in the best light. Use light modifiers to get the desired look.

11:52

Lesson 6. Shooting Against Bright Light

Shooting against a bright window? Neil will show you many options for exposing to highlight or downplay the background while keeping your subject well-lit.

8:17

Lesson 7. Soft Light Outdoors

See how best to shoot outdoors in softer light, with and without flash.

18:29

Lesson 8. Harsh Light Outdoors

Harsh sunlight poses distinct challenges that Neil will teach you how to tackle for the best results.

12:30

Lesson 9. Using Two Speedlights

Ready to work with more than one light? Neil has great techniques to set up and use multiple speedlights.

"I have taken a lot of online classes. Craftsy has the best instructors, layout, lesson plans and videos of what is currently available on the internet now... I learn something every time I log on, watch videos or read comments from other students. Way to go Craftsy!!!" - Christine

3000+ students have enrolled in this class

Recently Enrolled

Lesson plan

13:04

Lesson 1. Intro to Off-Camera Flash

Meet Neil and see great examples of effective use of off-camera flash photography, with a discussion of location and subject positioning.

14:45

Lesson 2. Gear & Setup

Learn what gear you’ll need for using off-camera flash, including battery packs, wireless transmitters and modifiers such as umbrellas and soft boxes.

28:06

Lesson 3. Using a Speedlight

Neil demystifies the speedlight’s many settings and how to adjust them, whether you’re shooting with automatic metering or manually adjusting your camera’s exposure.

19:00

Lesson 4. Exposure Metering Techniques

Effective metering is key to good exposure. You’ll see how to use a handheld meter or through-the-lens metering and how to read a photo’s histogram to check your exposure whether your main light is natural or flash.

21:14

Lesson 5. Perfect Portrait: From Speedlight Setup to Posing

Position and direct your subjects to put them in the best light. Use light modifiers to get the desired look.

11:52

Lesson 6. Shooting Against Bright Light

Shooting against a bright window? Neil will show you many options for exposing to highlight or downplay the background while keeping your subject well-lit.

8:17

Lesson 7. Soft Light Outdoors

See how best to shoot outdoors in softer light, with and without flash.

18:29

Lesson 8. Harsh Light Outdoors

Harsh sunlight poses distinct challenges that Neil will teach you how to tackle for the best results.

12:30

Lesson 9. Using Two Speedlights

Ready to work with more than one light? Neil has great techniques to set up and use multiple speedlights.

The instructor

Neil van Niekerk, Instructor of Off-Camera Flash Photography

Neil van Niekerk is a portrait, wedding and boudoir photographer based in the greater New York area. Originally from South Africa, he teaches workshops and seminars on photography and lighting and maintains a popular photography blog, Tangents. Neil has also written several books on flash and lighting techniques in photography that have been translated into Polish, Portuguese and Chinese.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(17 reviews)

Sweet

by Martin G. on May 13, 2015

Love it! Very detailed and informative...

Love it! Very detailed and informative...

Off camera flash

by Steve Lowe on May 3, 2015

My photography has improved greatly due to the techniques taught in this class. I've learned how to use off camera flash to enhance my portraits, eliminating unwanted shadows and showing the subjects in their best light! Thank you Neil, and thank you Craftsy!

My photography has improved greatly due to the techniques taught in this class. I've learned how to use off camera flash to enhance my portraits, eliminating unwanted shadows and showing the subjects in their best light! Thank you Neil, and thank you Craftsy!

Very Good And Useful Information

by whitedino7562725 on April 9, 2015

Neil does a great job explaining the topic of off camera flash. Easy to follow and understand. Breaks down TTL and manual flash applications precisely. I learned a lot of useful information and technique.

Neil does a great job explaining the topic of off camera flash. Easy to follow and understand. Breaks down TTL and manual flash applications precisely. I learned a lot of useful information and technique.

great in-depth presentation

by Ralph Gousse on January 17, 2015

I have read a lot about flash photography and all the gadgets and it so confusing but this class makes it now very simple to me. Great speaker too. Thank you!

I have read a lot about flash photography and all the gadgets and it so confusing but this class makes it now very simple to me. Great speaker too. Thank you!

Frequently asked questions

Neil will show you how to get the most out of the off-camera flash you might already own. If you’re looking to expand into off-camera flash photography, you’ll get useful tips on what equipment to consider, from flashes and battery packs to wireless triggers and light modifiers.

Some of the foundational principles apply to both on and off-camera flash. But if you are looking to expand your lighting options in the studio and on location, Neil can give you the techniques to do that. Off-camera flash gives you flexibility to create more dramatic lighting that you can’t achieve with an on-camera speedlight.